The Nigeria women’s basketball team became the first African team to progress further to a quarterfinal in Olympic history at the Paris 2024 Olympics. In so doing, they caused waves throughout the basketball world and inspiration across a continent with every piece of play.
D’Tigress came to the Olympics with an overall record of 1-37 in their previous tournaments. Already in Paris, they doubled that total of wins, topping Australia and Canada in pool play. Their efforts and displays have expressed physically the depth, the swarming D, and the fearless offense.
This was a great win and this team was really successful because of the backcourt duo of Ezinne Kalu and Amy Okonkwo. Kalu shined all day, leading the team in scoring and assists. Okonkwo, the team captain, has provided them with veteran leadership and timely scoring.
Coach Rene Wakama has instilled a fighting spirit in her team, and it is a 100 per cent ‘no’ to suggestions that they are small fry who do not belong at this level of competition. She is unbending and has stuck to her guns—such an approach, coupled with trust in her players, has propelled them to a run for the history books.
It’s now left for the D’Tigress to have their most demanding assignments yet, as they go head to-head with defending champions, the United States of America, Wednesday, August 7, in the quarterfinals.
The Americans, though led by veterans Jackie Young, A’ja Wilson, and Breanna Stewart, have looked totally in control across their three group stage victories. The task in front of the D’Tigress is herculean.
Unfazed, they will bank on the capacity to cause upsets, which makes them so disruptive on defense with relentless presses to the end.According to Coach Wakama, “You tell me that I can’t do something, and I am going to tell you that I can.”
The word ‘magnificent’ will be an understatement to describe the achievement made by Nigeria. An African team has now shattered the glass ceiling for the very first time in the history of the Olympics to appear in the quarterfinals, respectively. It will inspire every young girl across this continent to dream and believe.
As the D’Tigress head into this quarterfinal clash, they will do so with an entire continent resting its hopes and dreams on them. Whatever happens—win or lose—they made history and showed that basketball in Africa is here in the world to reckon with.
The journey of the Nigerian women’s basketball team at the Paris 2024 Olympics speaks loud about perseverance, belief, and the ability to defy odds. They managed to transcend barriers and pave the way for the coming generation of African basketball players.
